2 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1 stick butter
1/2 c. Crisco
4 tbsp. cocoa
1 c. water
1/2 c. buttermilk
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tbsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. vanilla

Sift together sugar and flour. Set aside. In saucepan, mix butter, Crisco, cocoa, water and bring to boil. Pour over flour/sugar mixture. Stir well and add buttermilk, eggs, soda, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix and pour in sheet cake pan and bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

FROSTING FOR NINA'S CAKE:

1 stick butter
4 tbsp. cocoa
6 tbsp. milk
1 box powdered sugar
1 c. nuts
1 tbsp. vanilla

Melt butter, cocoa and milk together and bring to boil. Remove from heat and add powdered sugar, nuts and vanilla. Mix well and pour over warm cake. Frost cake while still warm.